"Love potion!" Valerie exclaimed.

"Stop pretending," Dylan's wife said, pulling a bottle from her pocket and throwing it at Valerie. The bottle's label was rough, with an obscure line of text in the corner. It read, "Love potion. Knockout in three seconds." The offensive message was unbearable.

Valerie didn't retort. She gripped the bottle tightly, a terrible premonition flashing through her mind. She immediately called Katherine, but got no answer. She then called Dylan, but his phone was switched off. Her ominous feeling intensified.

She asked everyone where Dylan's business trip was. Everyone hesitantly shook their heads, only knowing he'd gone to Vomez, a neighboring city, but they didn't know the specific location.

Dylan's wife sneered. "I've seen many lowlifes like you," she said. "Think you can seduce my husband and climb the ladder? It'll never happen."

Valerie interrupted sternly, "Where is Dylan?"

Dylan's wife recoiled. "You vixen! How dare you raise your voice at me? Don't even think I'll tell you…"

Valerie couldn't take it anymore. "I told you, I'm not Isabel! Are you deaf? You're the only one who treats that fatso Dylan like he's precious. You keep accusing others of seducing him, but he's the one who might be committing a crime! This drug is evidence. We need to stop him now before he spends the rest of his life in jail!"

Valerie, usually gentle and soft-spoken, had never spoken so forcefully.

Dylan's wife was stunned. Valerie seemed sincere. After a long hesitation, she said, "He has a personal phone besides his work phone. I might be able to reach him."

"Great!" Valerie said. "Find out where he is. We need to locate him immediately!"

Valerie took a deep breath and quickly explained the situation to Ronald. "I'm certain Dylan bought this love potion himself. He and Katherine are on a business trip, but I've lost contact. I have to find Katherine."

Ronald, anxious, immediately dispatched two male colleagues with Valerie to Vomez, arranging for a car. They took Dylan's wife with them.

In the car, Valerie called Katherine again, still without success. Remembering the noisy wedding venue from her previous call, she hoped the loud music had prevented Katherine from hearing her phone.

Meanwhile, Dylan's wife realized the situation was more serious than she'd thought. She called Dylan, attempting to subtly extract information, following Valerie's instructions.

After several seconds, Dylan answered.

"Hello?"

Lowering her voice, Dylan's wife said, "Hubby, it's so noisy there."

"The client's hosting a wedding reception," Dylan said. "It's loud."

"A wedding reception?" his wife replied. "It's been ages. Where are you? I'd like to come."

"Didn't I tell you I'm in Vomez on a business trip?" Dylan said. His voice was muffled by the noise. It sounded lazy.

"Which part of Vomez?" his wife asked. "Let me see if it's close. I'll come."

"Don't come," Dylan said impatiently. "It's a small, underdeveloped town. You're pregnant; stay home. Just wait for me."

"Sure, hubby," she said. She wasn't angry at his sharp tone. After hanging up, she glared at Valerie.

"Your name is Valerie, right?" she said. "I mistook you for Isabel. I'm sorry. But you falsely accused my husband. Listen to what he said. He's fine. This isn't over. I'm suing you for defamation! Pull over!"